Santa Cruz Bicycles Hightower Carbon 27.5+ S Complete Mountain Bike - 2018 description:Santa Cruz's all-new Hightower Carbon 27. 5+ Complete Mountain Bike may ship as a mid-wheel/big-tire model, but its linkage can be adjusted, transforming it into a 29er without significantly altering its long, low, all-mountain geometry. Of course, the fact that it comes stock with Boost axles, clearance that easily accommodates 2. 8in tires, aggressively stubby chainstays, a long reach, and a decidedly slack head tube mean that you may never be tempted by the other side of the fence. The grass is looking pretty damn green right here in the 27. 5+ yard, especially when all of those features are paired with SRAM's newly Eagle-ized GX drivetrain. Though Santa Cruz is releasing a long-travel (LT) version of the Hightower, that new model doesn't include the flip chip in the upper link, which allows the shock mount to migrate and it definitely warrants some attention. Being able to reposition the shock attachment point effectively accounts for the 9mm difference in radii between 27. 5+ and 29in tires, keeping the geometry as static as possible across wheel sizes. There's definitely a trend in the industry towards four-inch 29ers slacked out for trail riding, but the Hightower's optional 29er incarnation pushes that trend into the enduro realm. Like with the ability to swap wheel sizes, the Hightower's middle-range, 5. 3in travel belies its true nature. Though its travel and wheel clearance may inspire initial comparisons with Mr. Moderate (the 5010) or SC's equivalent of a center in basketball (the Tallboy LT), Santa Cruz instead encourages us to "think of it as the Bronson's taller brother." Yep, that Bronson. Given the implied big-hit aggression of this comparison, we're compelled to dip into the lore of North American ball sports again for another analogy: the Hightower isn't a gangly hoopster so much as the two-wheeled version of a predatory linebacker. The 27. 5+ Hightower's 66. 8-degree head tube angle, generous tire clearance, and reworked Virtual Pivot Point...